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• Tune Thursday : Looking back at the development of Broadway's "Lion King"

  Jim Hill chats with Derek Smith, the actor who's now playing Scar in this Tony Award-winning musical. But whose ties to this show actually go all the way back to the costume & mask tests that Julie Taymor did in her workshop Read More... Posted Friday, July 11, 2008 12:00 AM | 1 Comments Filed under: Disney, Broadway, musical, Disney Theatrical, New York City, "The Lion King", Julie Taymor, New Amsterdam Theatre, Minskoff Theatre, Tony Award winner, NYC, Scar, Broadway musical, stage version, Tony Award, 1997, Broadway production, costume concept, staging, stage show , stage, New York, costume designer , costumes, Derek Smith, "The Green Bird", workshop, mask, "The Madness of King Scar", rehearsal, rehearsal pianist, stage manager

• Stage version of "Mary Poppins" draws a lot of its inspiration from ... Well, drawings

  Jim Hill looks back at the development of this Disney / Cameron Mackintosh production. Which is not just based on the 1964 film, but also draws its inspiration from P.L. Travers' stories and Mary Shepard's illustrations Read More... Posted Friday, June 20, 2008 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: Disney, Broadway, musical, Disney Theatrical, Chicago, New Amsterdam Theatre, "Mary Poppins", NYC, Academy Award, film, movie, road company, Broadway musical, stage version, 2009, Tony Award, Broadway production, Cameron Mackintosh , "Jolly Holiday", Bob Crowley, Mary Poppins, London, penguins, stage show , production team, March, stage, national tour, North American National Tour , Ashley Brown , title role, Gavin Lee , Drama Desk Award, New York, 1964, set designer , costume designer , set, motion picture, setting, "Practically Perfect" , Richard Eyre, creative team , Matthew Bourne , Julian Fellowes, P L Travers , Robertson Ay, footman, "A Spoonful of Sugar" , 1934, Mrs Corry , Annie, Fannie, gingerbread , gilt stars , Gingerbread Stars , "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious", talking shop, bake shop, barley-sugar, "Bad Wednesday" , chapter, "Mary Poppins Comes Back" , Royal Doulton , George Stiles , Anthony Drewe , "Temper Temper" , Miss Andrew, governess, Ruth Gottschall, birdcage , Mary Shepard , "Let's Go Fly a Kite" , 1943, "Mary Poppins Opens the Door" , Neleus, statue , statues, illustrations, illustration, "The Marble Boy", Starlighter , costumes, constellations , "Anything Can Happen If You Let It", "Mary Poppins in the Park" , England, Theatre Royal Plymouth , Cadillac Palace Theatre, Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Matthew Garber, Karen Dotrice, Ed Wynn

• "High School Musical 5 & 6" ?! "Beauty & the Beast" headed back to Broadway ?!

  Jim Hill shares some of the domain names that the Walt Disney Company has recently registered. Including a new year-long promotion for 2009 that looks & sounds an awful lot like 2003's "Magical Gatherings" campaign Read More... Posted Tuesday, June 03, 2008 12:00 AM | 22 Comments Filed under: Disney, Broadway, musical, "High School Musical", ABC, Disney Channel, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney Theatrical, "Beauty & the Beast", Anaheim, Orlando, The Walt Disney Company, "High School Musical 3", "High School Musical 4", "High School Musical" franchise, Disneyland Resort, Jay Rasulo, Disney Parks & Resorts, "Aida", WDW, "Year of a Million Dreams", hotel, Broadway musical, Disney Channel Original, 2008, 2009, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, "Toy Story Mania", "Toy Story Midway Mania", 2007, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" , Broadway production, 2003, on property, TV movie, TV movies , hotels, 2006, Disney franchise, theatrical release, 2010, "My School Musical" , "High School Musical: Get in the Picture" , "High School Musical 5" , "High School Musical 6", Wildcats, East High, Matt Prokop, Justin Martin , Jemma McKenzie-Brown, "HSM3" , domain name , "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas - The Musical" , St. James Theatre , Paul Kolnik, Big Apple , holiday treat, seasonal run , seasonal production, revival , "Annie" , Old Globe Theatre, Hilton Theatre, national tour, "Magical Gatherings" , Disney vacation, "Disney’s Magical Celebration", "Disney’s Magical Celebrations", Regular Unleaded, gasoline, DP&R, year-long promotion, heads in beds, consumers, theme park tickets, plane reservations, hotel rooms, birthday buttons, pins, plush

• Tune Tuesday: Get ready for the stage version of "High School Musical 2"

  Jim Hill shares all sorts of tidbits from the Disney Theatrical side of the fence. Including the tour schedule for both the North American & UK version of "Mary Poppins" as well as "The Little Mermaid" CD release celebration Read More... Posted Tuesday, February 19, 2008 12:00 AM | 3 Comments Filed under: Disney, theater, Broadway, "High School Musical", ABC, Walt Disney Pictures, Disney Theatrical, "The Little Mermaid", "High School Musical 2", The Walt Disney Company, "High School Musical 3", "High School Musical" franchise, New York City, Washington D.C., Australia, Chicago, "The Lion King", Los Angeles, "Mary Poppins", NYC, LA, Broadway musical, stage version, Disney Channel Original, 2009, October, Cameron Mackintosh , Broadway Cares / Equity Fights Aids , autographs, co-production, stage show

• Night Kingdom to reimagine the Disney-theme-park-going experience

  Jim Hill shares what he knows about WDW's 5th theme park. Which will be an after-hours venue that will offer guests the chance to have all sorts of once-in-a-lifetime, hands-on adventures Read More... Posted Friday, February 15, 2008 12:00 AM | 94 Comments Filed under: Disney, theater, theme park, convention, resorts, Walt Disney World, Disney Theatrical, Discovery Cove, SeaWorld, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, The Walt Disney Company, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Disney's Yacht Club Resort, Walt Disney World Dolphin hotel, WDW, cast members, Operations, cast member, hotel, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, resort, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, October, guest, guests, rides, ride, show, on property, vacation package, eatery, SeaWorld Orlando, Pleasure Island, The Adventurers Club, Adventurers Club, night club, 2011, Disney's Night Kingdom, 5th theme park, Busch Gardens Africa, focus group, focus groups , preview video , SeaWorld's Discovery Cove, niche park , 40th anniversary , DNK, 1000 , 2000, 4000 , Indiana Jones , zip line , crocodiles, hand-feeding , hippopotamus, traditional theme park , night vision goggles , lions , lion, hyenas , hyena, spelunking, bats , bat, rock climbing, African savanna, South American , penguins, horticultural , Typhoon Lagoon , eateries, stage show , Broadway talent, capacity , operation , blueprints , hotels, Walt Disney World Swan, Walt Disney World Dolphin, on-property , admission , gourmet meal , non-alcoholic beverages , non-alcoholic beverage, admission fee , newest theme park , vacation packages, convention groups, convention group, weeks, week, months, month, advance reservations, advance reservation, reservations , reservation, annual shareholders meeting , shareholders meeting , Albuquerque , annual press event, press event, Villain themed , Villains themed , coasters, coaster, natural environment , once-in-a-lifetime , Disney's Boardwalk Inn

• "Dream Worlds" offers look at abandoned Disney animated features

  Jim Hill reviews Hans Bacher's new "Production Design for Animation" book. Which features visual development art from "My Peoples," "Fraidy Cat" and "Wild Life" Read More... Posted Wednesday, January 23, 2008 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: animation, book, Disney, Broadway, Andreas Deja, Disney Theatrical, "Beauty & the Beast", "101 Dalmatians", "Aladdin", "Dinosaur", Walt Disney Animation Studios, France, WDAS, "The Lion King", the New World, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", LA, Germany, film, Broadway musical, stage version, animated feature, 2007, Disneyana fans, Walt Disney Feature Animation, "Mulan", Hans Bacher , logo, visual development, visual development artist , production designer, paintings, drawings , inspirational material , artists , animators , "Dream Worlds: Production Design for Animation" , Focal Press, December , canvases , "China Doll", emperor, Shang, "My Peoples" , "Elgin's Peoples" , "Angel and Her No Good Sister", "Once in a Blue Moon" , "A Few Good Ghosts", "Fraidy Cat" , Alfred Hitchcock , crime story , London, development art , "Wild Life", The Secret Lab, urban, hipster, George Bernard Shaw, "Pygmalion", story points, BS-free , edited, massaged , Disney Publicity , production notes, European version, Loire , generic-looking , Mulan

• Tune Thursday: There's big fun to be had at "The Little Mermaid"

  Jim Hill reviews Disney Theatrical's latest production. Which -- while admittedly not perfect -- is still a perfectly enjoyable evening of theater Read More... Posted Thursday, January 10, 2008 12:00 AM | 7 Comments Filed under: Disney, theater, Broadway, musical, Disney Theatrical, "The Little Mermaid", Lunt-Fontanne Theater, New York City, NYC, Broadway musical, New York Times

• Monday Mouse Watch: Ariel meets her maker? Has Tinker Bell lost her voice?

  Jim Hill shares a few fun Disney-related items that have popped up in his inbox over the past few days. Including where you can find an early reference to Rapunzel in "Enchanted" Read More... Posted Monday, December 10, 2007 12:00 AM | 12 Comments Filed under: animation, Disney, musical, John Lasseter, Disney Theatrical, "The Little Mermaid", Disney Fairies, "The Tinker Bell Movie", Walt Disney Animation Studios, Kevin Lima, Glen Keane, "Rapunzel", stagehands union, movie, stagehands, Disney in-joke

• "How Does the Show Go On?" lifts the curtain on what goes on behind-the-scenes at a Broadway musical

  Jim Hill reviews Thomas Schumacher & Jeff Kurtti's interactive introduction to the theater. Which uses stories & images from various Disney Theatrical productions to reveal what's actually involved with putting on a professional show Read More... Posted Thursday, December 06, 2007 12:00 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: book, Disney, theater, Broadway, musical, Disney Theatrical, "Beauty & the Beast", Disney Press, "Tarzan", New York City, Jeff Kurtti, Disney Editions, New Amsterdam Theatre, "Mary Poppins", NYC, Local One, stagehands, Broadway musical, show, Thomas Schumacher, Broadway production, "How Does the Show Go On? An Introduction to the Theater", backstage

• Broadway comes roaring back to life, and so does Disney's "The Lion King"

  Jim Hill brings you an update on the 10th anniversary celebration for this Tony Award-winning musical. Which was kind of thrown off-schedule by last month's stagehands strike Read More... Posted Tuesday, December 04, 2007 12:00 AM | 1 Comments Filed under: Disney, theater, Broadway, musical, The Lion King, Disney Theatrical, New York City, "The Lion King", Julie Taymor, New Amsterdam Theatre, Minskoff Theatre, Tony Award winner, NYC, 10th anniversary, gala performance, international production, Local One, stagehands union, The League of American Theatres and Producers, stagehands, road company, Broadway musical, canapé, caterer, after-party, Cipriani 42, original cast, Thomas Schumacher, Tony Award, South Africa, The Montecasino Teatro, Johannesburg, The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, celebration, scenery, picket line, reunion, TLK, "TLK", Mexico, Young Nala, Young Simba, Ron Kunene, family, unsung heroes, unsung hero, opening night, 1997, Broadway production

• Instead of a Why For this week, how about a Where For ?

  This time around, Jim Hill talks up various Disney & animation-related events that are happening all around the U.S. over the next two weeks Read More... Posted Friday, November 16, 2007 12:00 AM | 3 Comments Filed under: animation, Disney, Pixar, Broadway, "High School Musical", Disney Theatrical, Anaheim, Orlando, Tinker Bell, Pixar Animation Studios, Emeryville, Manhattan, Feld Entertainment, YouTube, Los Angeles, Burbank, NYC, Florida, Walt Disney Studios, Las Vegas, California, LA, ASIFA-Hollywood, American Film Institute, "Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure", Grim Natwick, Connecticut, MiceAge, MousePlanet, LaughingPlace, WDWMagic, screening, panel discussion, OceanEars, National Fantasy Fan Club, Disneyana Enthusiasts, Rhode Island, Crowne Plaza, Warwick, Margaret Kerry, actress, "Tinker Bell Talks! Tales of a Pixie Dusted Life", Sherman Oaks, NFFC, Studio Chapter in Los Angeles, Westfield Shopping Town Fashion Square, David Koenig, "Realityland: True-Life Adventures of Walt Disney World", Character Warehouse, AMS, Assets Management & Sales LLC, White House, Orangefair Marketplace, Fullerton, The Annex at Las Vegas Factory Outlets, Las Vegas Factory Outlets, Puente Hills Mall, City of Industry, Mesa Pavilions, Mesa, 5th Avenue, flagship store, Disney Bear, Santa Mickey, Reindeer Pluto, Reel Appeal, Alameda, furniture, "Bedknobs & Broomsticks", Loft Appeal, Dave Smith, Disney Archives, stagehands, road company, Broadway musical, Disney's "High School Musical on Tour", stage version, Disney Channel Original, HSM, Playhouse Square Center, Cleveland, Providence Center for the Performing Arts, Ohio, "Disney Live!", "Playhouse Disney Live!", Wicomico Youth and Civic Center, Salisbury , Maryland, Veterans Memorial Arena, Binghamton, ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive, "Grim Natwick's Scrapbook", "Behind the Scenes at Pixar", Emery Ed Fund, Pixar campus, Van Eaton Galleries, Jerry Beck, "The Hanna-Barbera Treasury", JHM

• Want to win some tickets to Disney's "The Little Mermaid" musical? Then enter BroadwayWorld's "Give Us Your Voice Contest!"

  Jim Hill shares what he's heard about the stagehands strike as well as directing JHM readers to a fun new contest that will actually allow the winner to sit in on the recording of "The Little Mermaid" 's original cast album Read More... Posted Wednesday, November 14, 2007 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: Disney, music, Broadway, musical, Disney Theatrical, "The Little Mermaid", Alan Menken, Glenn Slater, Howard Ashman, Lunt-Fontanne Theater, YouTube, Local One, BroadwayWorld, stagehands union, "Give Us Your Voice Contest!", The League of American Theatres and Producers, New York Marriot Marquis Times Square, FaceBook, MySpace, original cast recording, original cast album, "Part of Your World", "Poor Unfortunate Souls", "Kiss the Girl", box office

• Tune Thursday: Broadway's "Lion King" balances spectacle with intimate storytelling

  As this Tony Award-winning musical gets ready to celebrate its 10th anniversary in NYC, Jim Hill chats with Nathaniel Stampley. Who talks about how the sacrifices that his own father made as well as the recent birth of his daughter informs Stampley's performance of Mufasa Read More... Posted Thursday, November 01, 2007 12:00 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: Disney, music, theater, Broadway, musical, Disney Theatrical, New York City, Chicago, "The Lion King", Julie Taymor, Minskoff Theatre, 9/11, Simba, NYC, 10th anniversary, gala performance, Nathaniel Stampley, Detroit

• Tune Thursday: Sorry, but Kissy Simmons won't kiss-and-tell about her time in Broadway's "The Lion King"

  In honor of the upcoming 10th anniversary of this Disney Theatrical production, Jim Hill chats with Kissy Simmons, the actress who's now playing Nala in this long-running musical spectacular Read More... Posted Thursday, October 18, 2007 12:05 AM | 1 Comments Filed under: Disney, movies, Broadway, musical, Disney Theatrical, New York City, "The Lion King", Minskoff Theatre, Tony Award winner, 9/11, Michael Jackson, "The King of Pop", Nala, Simba, Show Palace Dinner Theatre, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, "Aida", Apollo Theater, NYC, Kissy Simmons, Doubletree Guest Suites Times Square, Floral City, Florida, Audrey II, Denver, "Shadow Land", Times Square, 10th anniversary, gala performance

• Tune Thursday: Timon tells tails ... er ... tales about his time on Broadway

  In honor of the 10th anniversary of the stage version of "The Lion King," Jim Hill chats with Danny Rutigliano. The veteran stage performer who -- for nearly a decade now -- has been playing the world's most famous meerkat (Outside of Flower, of course) Read More... Posted Thursday, October 11, 2007 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: animation, Disney, movies,